Sunday night’s 4-0 win over Venezuela featured a brace form City’s record signing, the first of which was a piledriver from around 30 yards out. City teammate Elano was in on the action too, providing the assist for Adriano’s goal that put Brazil three up inside 20 minutes.
All in all a good day at the office for two of our Brazilian contingent, but of Robinho the Blues boss says:
“He’s playing well at the moment, and that was a fantastic strike. Two goals from that international is a great return for him and I’m sure that when he returns he’ll be very buoyant, which he usually is anyway.
“He’s very positive, it shows that he’s happy with his football and in himself at the moment, which is a big part of what we have been able to give him. He’s playing week-in, week-out in front of a crowd that absolutely adores him, you can see the joy in his play and I hope we reap the benefits.”
Robinho has settled in well on the pitch and off it as well, although his assertion that his English is currently ‘2 out of 10’ is greeted with a smile by the Manager – “It’s not as good as that!” The rainy Manchester weather has also taken the player by surprise, but Hughes says that having Elano and Jo in the squad has played a big part in allowing Robinho to find his feet.
“The weather’s something we don’t enjoy either and I have lived here for many, many years. Robinho has settled in very well and it has obviously helped that he has some of his Brazilian friends around him.
“It’s so important that when you bring in top players that they settle as soon as possible and Robinho has certainly done that,” he concludes.
